Labour conference delegates who stayed between Hove and Worthing must have had a shock.

From last Sunday (September 30), all the evening buses on the No 700 route were withdrawn.

For the first time, an evening out in Brighton or Worthing is no longer an option if you live near the coast road or in North Southwick, which also loses its evening No 46.

I am told these cuts come courtesy of West Sussex County Council and Stagecoach.

But Brighton and Hove City Council has just announced it is making huge cuts in buses too.

Us Dyke Road residents are to be deprived of the only bus routes that take us to the "everyday" shops.

After Christmas, the council is stopping the funding for the No 35 route to the Open Market and London Road shops and the No 13 route to George Street, Hove, and Sainsbury's.

What's going on? With a growing national and local economy, why can't we afford to provide these basic, much-needed services? The council talks about social inclusion - but these cuts will exclude people from independent daily life.

The council encourages us to use our cars less but what incentive is there if bus commuting from Dyke Road to London Road is to take twice as long and involve changing buses?

And what of promises to help promote London Road as a shopping area? How will depriving it of a large slice of its local customers help improve its fortunes?

Surely the council and Government aren't about to be this hypocritical?

-Annie Edwards, annieedwards2002@yahoo.com